Question about KG 54 in July 1941

[oquaig]

In many general accounts of the raids on Moscow KG 54 is often listed as one of the participants. I have searched through many accounts and unit histories of KG 54 activities and none mention KG 54 participating in the Moscow raids in July 1941. Does anyone have any information concerning KG 54 confirming their participation or is it an error ?

[Tim O.]

Hi OQUAIG

I have several Flugbuche to an Oberfeldwebel Radio Operator, who flew with KG 54 during Barbarossa. Luckily for us he wrote really useful comments in his logbooks. I have the following two entries for 5. Staffel, KG 54:

5th March 1942 flying out of Orscha in Ju 88 B3+KN comment: 'night attack on Moscow (Kremlin) with heavy bombs'

5th September 1942 flying out of Schatalovka in Ju 88 B3+AN comment: 'attack on Kubinka fighter airfield near Moscow. 12 direct hits on aircraft & hanger (fires).'

Pilot on both occasions was Oberfeldwebel Ernst Weible (later DK & posthumous RK), Radio Operator was Oberfeldwebel Alfred Schmittka (later DK).

[oquaig]

Thanks for that, but I was looking for info specifically for July 1941.

[Tim O.]

Originally Posted by oquaig

Thanks for that, but I was looking for info specifically for July 1941.

My man has around 20 flights in July 1941 but none mention Moscow. Focus seems to be around Kiev and Novograd for 5. Staffel/KG 54.

[oquaig]

Yes, Thanks for that. What I am thinking here is that KG 54 was never involved in the Moscow raids in 1941 and that whom ever first published that information (Cajus Bekker ?) either made a mistake or it was a typo with the printer. As for Bekker, he fails to mention KG 2 and KG 4 altogether.

[Larry deZeng]

No mention in unit history of participation in July 1941 raids on Moscow.

Radtke, Siegfried. Kampfgeschwader 54 - Von der Ju 52 zur Me 262: Eine Chronik nach Kriegstagebüchern, Berichten und Dokumenten 1935 – 1945. München: Schild-Verlag, 1990. [Comment: in view of the meticulous detail offered in this work, reference to other published and unpublished sources would be redundant.]

L.